So I was surfing around the internet today and came across the following article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_he_me/med_making_teeth_grow
In case you’re like me (which you very well may be) and don’t end up clicking on the link, taking time to read what the article is about, a bunch of scientists have unlocked the gene that causes sharks to grow more than one set of teeth so that when their teeth fall out, another is there to replace it. These geneticists have tried the gene out on mice and found that as a result, they are able to cause these mice to grow multiple rows of teeth. Their next subject: humans. These geneticists believe that if humans can gain the gene to have this tooth-row-gene, it will allow humans to grow multiple rows of teeth so that if a tooth falls out or wears out, another can simply take its place, thus eliminating the need for dentures or toothless grins.
However, don’t you think this would be creepy? Someone might smile and you would find five rows of teeth in their mouth. Also, could this cause genetic differences in humans? Would humans begin to have differently shaped heads and jaws to accommodate more teeth? Would they also, as a result, have sharper teeth accustomed to carnivorous animals, rather than the combination of carnivorous and plant-eating animals? What about other effects? Could humans gain some unforeseen effects, such as growing gills or eating their young? And isn’t putting this gene into humans almost like “playing God” by altering human genetics and future generations?
What do you guys think? Leave me a comment and let me know!
